Terumah - February 20, 2021

Torah Portion:
Terumah - February 20, 2021
Torah: Exodus 25:1-27:19
Haftarah: 1 Samuel 15:2-15:34

Portion Summary:
—God asks for gifts to be given as hearts are moved.
—Design of the Ark, table, utensils, and lampstand are described.
—Design of the Tabernacle is described.
—The Altar construction is described.
—The outer enclosure of the Tabernacle is described.

Devotional by Janet Cothrell:

“You are to raise up the Tabernacle according to the plan which you were shown on the mountain. Make a fine woven linen curtain of blue, purple and scarlet, with cheruvim. It is to be the work of a skillful craftsman.” Exodus 26:30-31 (TLV)

I once visited the Temple Institute in Jerusalem where they make all the furnishings and vessels for the next Temple. What a place of beauty and industry! How I felt like a two-year-old, wishing I could handle everything; I even wanted to burrow my face into the priestly robe and put the silver trumpets to my mouth! The Tabernacle was designed to be the most beautiful place, a replica of the Holy of Holies in heaven. This is why God gave Moses such detailed instructions regarding its construction.

This reminds me of a woman I knew who was a nursing student, who (like most health care trainees) was required to observe a surgery. She had been reading about the features of the Tabernacle in her Bible study. While observing a patient’s open-heart procedure, she looked with wonder at the exposed chest cavity—it was filled with blue, purple, scarlet, silver, and gold colors. It occurred to her that the Holy of Holies could also have been replicated within the human chest!

The saying “your body is a temple” may be more literal than metaphor. You have a built-in place that truly can be inhabited by the Holy Spirit! God is so good to us, honoring us with such a place within us for Him to reside.

My Lord,
I praise You, for we are fearfully and wonderfully made to serve You and to be in relationship with You. We are not only made in Your image; we carry a home for Your Spirit to reside in always. You are good!
In Yeshua’s name, amen.